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Port · Olbia, Sardenha
Porto Cervo
Harbour village created in the 1960s as the center of the Costa Smeralda, with Mediterranean stone-and-plaster architecture, a yacht marina, the church Stella Maris and nearby beaches.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Porto Cervo
Porto Cervo is the centre of the Costa Smeralda, a roughly 55 km stretch of Arzachena's coast in northeastern Sardinia. The village was built around a deep natural harbour whose shape resembles a deer, hence the name. Previously the area was called Monti di Mola and was almost uninhabited.
In 1962 Prince Karim Aga Khan IV and a group of investors formed the Consorzio Costa Smeralda. Set designer Jacques Couelle and architects Luigi Vietti and Michele Busiri Vici drew up the village, opened in 1964, with light-plastered houses, stone, low roofs and stairways, in a style inspired by several Mediterranean coasts.
At the top of the village is the church Stella Maris, by Busiri Vici, with white walls and rounded forms. The piazzetta and surrounding streets concentrate shops and cafés, and the marina receives yachts in summer.
Nearby are beaches such as Capriccioli, Romazzino and Liscia di Vacca, and the cove of Cala di Volpe.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Allow 1 to 2 hours for the village; half a day or a full day if including Costa Smeralda beaches.
Best time
From June to September the village is busy and lively; at dusk the light on the marina is nicest for walking. From November to March many shops and restaurants close.
How to get there
By car, about 30 km and 40 minutes north of Olbia. There are buses from Olbia in season. Paid parking is available near the village.
Tip
To save money, have lunch or dinner in Olbia or Arzachena. Costa Smeralda beaches tend to get crowded in August: arrive early.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Porto Cervo
What is the Costa Smeralda?
A roughly 55 km stretch of Arzachena's coast in northeastern Sardinia, developed from 1962 under its own architectural rules. Porto Cervo is the centre.
What is the distance from Olbia?
About 30 km, roughly 40 minutes by car.
Does Porto Cervo village have a beach?
The village is built around the harbour. The beaches are a few kilometres away, such as Liscia di Vacca, Capriccioli and Romazzino.
Is it worth going outside summer?
Yes — to see the architecture at a quieter pace, but from November to March many shops and restaurants are closed.